Today’s tip: When signing closing documents, don’t sign any forms with blank lines or spaces. Contact us for more knowledge and strategies.

Experts agree that there may be times when it makes sense to consider homes outside your original price range. Contact us for more knowledge and strategies.

Dream Big: 6 Reasons Why You Should Look at Homes Outside Your Price Range
"When you’re house hunting, budget is everything. It dictates how much home you can reasonably afford, and therefore which homes you look at. After all, you don’t want to end up house poor or risk going into foreclosure because you couldn’t maintain your mortgage payments. [...] However, he says, there are times when looking outside your budget does make sense. Here are six top reasons why you shouldn't be afraid to take a peek outside your price range."

Did you know? Recent dramatic changes to California’s accessory dwelling unit regulations may soon have an impact on how cheap, fast, and easy it will be to get through the building-approval process. Contact us for more knowledge and strategies.

2020: The Year Of The ADU
"Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) should get a new lease on life in 2020 due to a heavy push for affordable housing perfectly timed with state regulation and advancements in construction technology.
The ADU housing approach is a fast and creative way to address affordable housing. ADUs, which have been around for years, go by a variety of names: casitas, pool homes, in-law suites, granny flats, guesthouses and secondary dwelling units, among them."

From our family at Googain/MaxReal to yours, we with you very Happy Holidays!

May your winter season be spent celebrating good times with family and friends.

New analysis from Realtor.com shows homebuyers have kicked off shopping season earlier and earlier in recent years. Are you prepared for your opportunity in January 2020? Contact us today!

Could January be the New April for Home Shopping? A new realtor.com® analysis says "yes" in 20 large metro areas
"- People have begun their home search earlier each year since 2015
- January 2019 fell just one percent behind February for highest number of views per listing
- In one out of five large markets January saw the highest number of listing views in 2019
- Although searching begins earlier in the year, competition remains high through spring"

Putting your house on the market this winter season? Check out these expert tips on how to appeal to homebuyers with a holiday-themed open house. Contact us for more knowledge and strategies.

Hark, the Buyers Sing! 4 Tips to Throw a Rockin' Holiday-Themed Open House
"If you've decided to keep your home on the market this holiday season (and you totally should), you probably have a few questions. Like, how much should you decorate the house? Or, is it OK to leave presents under the tree?
We checked with several real estate agents to answer your most pressing questions, and help you throw the ultimate holiday-themed open house that'll have buyers adding your home to their list for Santa."

Great news! The 2020 housing market looks bright according to Fannie Mae's latest revised forecast, which now predicts significant growth in single-family housing starts.

Fannie Mae boosts 2020 housing forecast ‘significantly’
"Fannie Mae’s Economic and Strategic Research Group predicts builders will expand production more than previously expected, due to a strong labor market and robust consumer spending. Low mortgage rates will also help.
After increasing just over 1% annually this year, growth in single-family housing starts will accelerate to 10% during 2020 and top 1 million new homes in 2021, the group predicts."

According to C.A.R.'s November report, California's housing market continues to be supported by record low interest rates and limited supply, resulting in better-than-expected year-end performance. Contact us for more knowledge and strategies.

November home sales and price report
"California home sales and prices ease back in November, but low rates and tight supply continue to provide support to the market, C.A.R. reports
- Existing, single-family home sales totaled 402,880 in November on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, down 0.3 percent from October and up 5.6 percent from November 2018.
- November’s statewide median home price was $589,770, down 2.6 percent from October and up 6.4 percent from November 2018.
- Year-to-date statewide home sales were down 1.9 percent in November."

Did you know? Due to loosening credit standards, homebuyers may now find it easier than ever to qualify. Contact us today.

Credit standards are loosening: Buyers may now find it easier to get a mortgage
“According to new data from the Mortgage Bankers Association, it’s getting easier to get a mortgage. The MBA’s Mortgage Credit Availability Index rose by 2.1 percent in November, a move that’s ‘indicative of loosening credit,’ the trade group says. […] Jumbo loans also rose a significant amount, jumping by 2.2 percent and marking an all-time high for these types of mortgages. On conventional loans, the index rose 1.4 percent. ‘Most notably, the jumbo index climbed to yet another record high, as investors increased their willingness to purchase loans with lower credit scores and higher LTV ratios,’ Kan said.”

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